Patents by Inventor Steven J. Leverette
Steven J. Leverette has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8196539Abstract: An offshore platform includes a buoyant hull comprising three or more interconnected pontoons and a plurality of support columns. The support columns support a deck or structure that supports equipment and/or payloads above a water surface. The support columns extend upwardly from respective ends of the pontoons to the deck or structure supported above the water surface. Anchoring members anchor the platform to the seabed.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Steven J. Leverette, Oriol R. Rijken, Peter A. Lunde, Stephen E. Kibbee, John O. Telders
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Patent number: 8167514Abstract: A submerged or partially submerged structure includes one or more non-cylindrical support columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed pontoons. The support columns include one or more strakes mounted thereon. The columns and strakes contribute to the stability of the structure during free floating operations and installation by reducing vortex induced motion.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Steven J. Leverette, Oriol R. Rijken
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Patent number: 8087849Abstract: A tension leg platform includes a deck supported on the upper ends of three or more columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed connecting members. The columns are battered inwardly and upwardly from the platform base to the deck. Tendons connected at the columns anchor the platform to the seabed. The footprints of the base of the battered columns and the tendons are larger than the footprint of the deck supported on the upper ends of the columns.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Steven J. Leverette, Oriol R. Rijken, Peter A. Lunde, Stephen E. Kibbee
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Publication number: 20110142545Abstract: A floating platform system includes a hull design configuration (40, 50) for limiting maximum tendon loads and aiding in inhibiting resonant responses in the platform system leading to better motions for personnel, equipment and riser support, and to lighter and lower cost tendon systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2005Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Steven J. Leverette, Oriol R. Rijken
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Publication number: 20110044764Abstract: A submerged or partially submerged structure includes one or more non-cylindrical support columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed pontoons. The support columns include one or more strakes mounted thereon. The columns and strakes contribute to the stability of the structure during free floating operations and installation by reducing vortex induced motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: STEVEN J. LEVERETTE, ORIOL R. RIJKEN
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Publication number: 20100074693Abstract: An offshore platform includes a buoyant hull comprising three or more interconnected pontoons and a plurality of support columns. The support columns support a deck or structure that supports equipment and/or payloads above a water surface. The support columns extend upwardly from respective ends of the pontoons to the deck or structure supported above the water surface. Anchoring members anchor the platform to the seabed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventors: STEVEN J. LEVERETTE, Oriol R. Rijken, Peter A. Lunde, Stephen E. Kibbee, John O. Telders
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Publication number: 20090185869Abstract: A tension leg platform includes a deck supported on the upper ends of three or more columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed connecting members. The columns are battered inwardly and upwardly from the platform base to the deck. Tendons connected at the columns anchor the platform to the seabed. The footprints of the base of the battered columns and the tendons are larger than the footprint of the deck supported on the upper ends of the columns.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventors: STEVEN J. LEVERETTE, Oriol R. Rijken, Peter A. Lunde, Stephen E. Kibbee
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Patent number: 7513209Abstract: A fairing for the reduction of vortex-induced vibration and the minimization of drag about a substantially cylindrical element immersed in a fluid medium. The fairing also eliminates the galloping phenomenon typically associated with a teardrop-shaped fairing. The fairing having a U-shaped cylindrical shell with opposing edges defining a longitudinal gap and parallel fins extending outwardly from the opposing edges of the shell, the parallel fins being positioned so as to reduce vortex-induced vibration, minimize drag and to eliminate the galloping phenomenon on the cylindrical element.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2007Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Rodney H. Masters, Randy W. Masters, Michael Sykes, Steven J. Leverette, Kenneth J. Schaudt
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Patent number: 7462000Abstract: A tension leg platform includes a deck supported on the upper ends of three or more columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed pontoons. The columns are battered inwardly and upwardly from the pontoons to the deck. Tendons connected at the columns anchor the platform to the seabed. The footprints of the base of the battered columns and the tendons are larger than the footprint of the deck supported on the upper ends of the columns.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Steven J. Leverette, Oriol R. Rijken, Peter A. Lunde
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Patent number: 7337742Abstract: A fairing for the reduction of vortex-induced vibration and the minimization of drag about a substantially cylindrical element immersed in a fluid medium. The fairing also eliminates the galloping phenomenon typically associated with a teardrop-shaped fairing. The fairing having a U-shaped cylindrical shell with opposing edges defining a longitudinal gap and parallel fins extending outwardly from the opposing edges of the shell, the parallel fins being positioned so as to reduce vortex-induced vibration, minimize drag and to eliminate the galloping phenomenon on the cylindrical element. Preferably, the length to diameter ratio of the fins is 1.5 to 2.50.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2006Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignees: VIV Suppression, Inc., Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Rodney H. Masters, Randy W. Masters, Michael Sykes, Steven J. Leverette, Kenneth J. Schaudt
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Publication number: 20080035043Abstract: A fairing for the reduction of vortex-induced vibration and the minimization of drag about a substantially cylindrical element immersed in a fluid medium. The fairing also eliminates the galloping phenomenon typically associated with a teardrop-shaped fairing. The fairing having a U-shaped cylindrical shell with opposing edges defining a longitudinal gap and parallel fins extending outwardly from the opposing edges of the shell, the parallel fins being positioned so as to reduce vortex-induced vibration, minimize drag and to eliminate the galloping phenomenon on the cylindrical element. Preferably, the length to diameter ratio of the fins is 1.5 to 2.50.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2006Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Randy W. Masters, Michael Sykes, STEVEN J. LEVERETTE, KENNETH J. SCHAUDT
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Patent number: 7104730Abstract: A floating platform includes a hull and a deck mounted on the uppermost end of the hull. The platform is anchored to the seabed by a plurality of tendons connected to the hull at the upper ends thereof and secured to the seabed at the lower ends thereof. The platform includes detachable buoyancy means providing supplemental buoyancy for hydrostatically stabilizing the platform without utilizing a derrick barge while ballasting the platform during installation.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Steven J. Leverette, Steven E. Kibbee
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Patent number: 6910438Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an oscillation suppression system is provided to inhibit vertical and rotational resonance of a floating platform. The oscillation suppression system includes energy absorption chambers mounted in or about the hull of the floating platform. The chambers may be separately attached or integrated as part of the structure. The chambers are comprised of gas in an upper portion, and water mass in a lower portion. The chambers are closed or partially vented at the upper ends and open at their bottom ends. The enclosed gas in the upper portion of the chamber acts as a gas spring reacting against the floating platform and the water mass. The suppression of resonant oscillations of the floating platform system is accomplished through the gas-spring pressure changes acting on the floating platform system in phase opposition to external forces.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Steven J. Leverette, Michael W. Spillane, Oriol R. Rijken, Stephen E. Kibbee
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Publication number: 20040216657Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an oscillation suppression system is provided to inhibit vertical and rotational resonance of a floating platform. The oscillation suppression system includes energy absorption chambers mounted in or about the hull of the floating platform. The chambers may be separately attached or integrated as part of the structure. The chambers are comprised of gas in an upper portion, and water mass in a lower portion. The chambers are closed or partially vented at the upper ends and open at their bottom ends. The enclosed gas in the upper portion of the chamber acts as a gas spring reacting against the floating platform and the water mass. The suppression of resonant oscillations of the floating platform system is accomplished through the gas-spring pressure changes acting on the floating platform system in phase opposition to external forces.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventors: Steven J. Leverette, Michael W. Spillane, Oriol R. Rijken, Stephen E. Kibbee
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Publication number: 20040105725Abstract: A tendon system for anchoring a floating platform to the seabed comprises composite tendon groups including one or more steel tendons in combination with tendons fabricated of synthetic materials. The synthetic composite tendons may be coaxially located within the steel tendons. Tendon resonance is inhibited by exerting damping forces through supplementary tendons/cables connecting a passive or active damping force system to the seabed. In another aspect of the invention, a passive tuned oscillator or an active driven mass oscillator provides damping of platform resonance motions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Steven J. Leverette, Kent B. Davies, Stephen E. Kibbee
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Patent number: 5964550Abstract: In a tension-leg mooring system a production platform supporting one or more decks above the water surface for accommodating equipment to process oil, gas, and water recovered from a subsea hydrocarbon formation is mounted on a single water surface piercing column formed by one or more buoyancy tanks located below the water surface. The surface piercing column includes a base structure comprising three or more pontoons extending radially outwardly from the bottom of the surface piercing column. The production platform is secured to the seabed by one or more tendons per pontoon which are secured to the pontoons at one end and anchored to foundation piles embedded in the seabed at the other end.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Seahorse Equipment CorporationInventors: Joseph W. Blandford, Kent B. Davies, Stephen E. Kibbee, Steven J. Leverette
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Patent number: RE48123Abstract: A fairing for the reduction of vortex-induced vibration and the minimization of drag about a substantially cylindrical element immersed in a fluid medium. The fairing also eliminates the galloping phenomenon typically associated with a teardrop-shaped fairing. The fairing having a U-shaped cylindrical shell with opposing edges defining a longitudinal gap and parallel fins extending outwardly from the opposing edges of the shell, the parallel fins being positioned so as to reduce vortex-induced vibration, minimize drag and to eliminate the galloping phenomenon on the cylindrical element.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Asset Integrity Management Solutions, L.L.C.Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Randy W. Masters, Michael Sykes, Steven J. Leverette, Kenneth J. Schaudt